Recent Reading
I'm still comfort reading with the Fairacre and Thrush Geen Books. I thought the former had come to an end but I have found another to be read soon!
The DCI Banks book was good.
Another Joanna Piercy novel and as good as the rest!
The next Wesley Peterson (by the way I still haven't gone back and read The Plague Maiden!!). I love the way these books tie in detective work with the additional archaeological story line.
The Anne Granger books keep you guessing right up to the end.
I haven't read a Cooper and Fry book for ages. This was good and a little different to others in the series with Fry having returned to Birmingham temporarily. I do wonder at times if Fry and Cooper will ever end up together!
I bought this book for the caravan and if you love Herefordshire churches it is a wonderful book and very interesting.
I also read a very good Logaston Press book on the Mappa Mundi called "Hereford's Curious Map" by Sarah Arrowsmith. I was again going to take it to the caravan but decided to give it to D as he is fascinated by the map. Sorry forgot to take a photo before giving it away!
Baking
D and E made another Great British Baking Box recipe - this time Lemony Lemon Slices.
Garden
The herbs bought recently are growing really well!
Ragwort - I live in hope of more Cinnabar Moth caterpillars!
The buddleias are now flowering just in time for the Big Butterfly Count!
Astrantia
Scabious in the wild flower area.
Rowan berries slowly ripening means autumn is perhaps now not that far away.
I've done 3 butterfly counts for the Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count in the garden. Thankfully, there are now more butterflies about! I won't list all the results but species seen included several New for Year.
Large White
Comma
Meadow Brown
Speckled Wood
Peacock
Small Skipper
Holly Blue
Gatekeeper
On Saturday D wanted to go (for his day job) to Elmdon Park Solihull as there was a pop up museum organised by the Elmdon Park Support Group which showed various finds discovered in the area of Elmdon Park, church, walled garden and where the old manors once stood.
The Tudor Manor House was built by John Botelere between 1485 and 1490. He was a Solihull lawyer who gained the estate when he married Catherine Hore who was the daughter of a wealthy Warwickshire family from Long Itchington who had connections with the Elmdon area.
The Manor House was demolished in 1783 and a new Georgian hall was built by Abraham Spooner who had bought the estate in 1760. The Spooner family sold the estate to a William Charles Alston in 1840. Both men had made their fortunes due to the Industrial Revolution. The part of the estate that is now Elmdon Park was bought by Solihull Council in 1930. The last occupant of the Georgian hall was a Mrs Alston Roberts who had sold off most of the estate in 1919. The hall became derelict and was sadly demolished in the 1950's.
There have been 3 churches near the park. The first was a Saxon 11th century church probably built by Lord Toki or Tochi who, according to the Domesday Book of 1066, was lord of the manor of Elmdon. Then between 1250 and 1290 the De-Whitaker Church was built which incorporated the Saxon church in the chancel area. The church with its new nave was 70 feet long by 30 feet wide
After buying the estate in 1760 one of Abraham Spooner's first projects was to rebuild the church which had become very dilapidated and was beyond repair. Some of the crypt of the original church was used as a mausoleum for the Spooner family. Some of the stained glass from the de Whitaker church was used in windows to the North of the church.
Although I have parked near it on past visits to the park I have not explored the church or churchyard - perhaps something to be rectified. Apparently the 13th century font from the de Whitaker church lies abandoned in the churchyard!
I've done a previous post on Elmdon Park and also on the Elmdon Park LNR (managed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust) which includes the walled garden of the old hall so if you would like to see or read please see here Elmdon Park and Elmdon Manor LNR
I hope everyone is staying safe and well.
All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera.
